We have too much stuff.
That’s right, WE, as in you, me, and Americans as a whole. There is just too much stuff. Now I am sure you hear it all the time, a sort of bleak judgment of us as a country. We are wasteful, lazy, consumer driven, we seek convenience, but at what price. Frankly, I am sick of it!
Everything we hear today is about the economy, or how we cant buy things we really need anymore (like a Snuggie, if only I had 19.95 plus S&H, curse this economy!), and blah blah blah. Let face it, we have all got a lot of stuff, let’s forget about buying more and really focus on what is right at our fingertips.
The most important thing about home harmony is organization. Most peoples definition of organized is that something fits into a particular place.
“All of my clothes are in my closet.”
“My tools are in the garage.”
“My paperclips are in my desk drawer.”
But it’s the sub-categories, and division of space that is really going to take organization to the next level.
First, pick a space: Don’t try and do the whole bedroom all at once, start with the closet, then move to the dresser, etc. If you start in one space you are less likely to be overwhelmed by the whole room.
Now in sorting this particular space it is important to ask yourself questions:
1) Do I use it and at what rate?
2) Will I ever use it again?
3) Could someone else benefit from this item?
If you answered yes to 1, decide how often it is used. Place it accordingly in the place (snow boots in the back corner, that favorite pair of sandals right up front). Also, decide if it even needs to be in the space. Seasonal items, or things only needed on occasion could go in the linen closet or garage.
If you answered yes to 2, deal with it as you would with 1. If you answered no, you have to decide right away are you going to GIVE or TOSS, make these piles and stick to them.
If you have to convince yourself to keep something (I should keep these nunchucks, just in case ninjas attack)then the item will never be used and you should get rid of it. If you are having problems throwing something away, put it in a prominent place and see how you utilize it, if you don’t use it in a month, get rid of it.
A note on memories: its hard to get rid of certain things because of nostalgia, and things like pictures and yearbooks can be important to save, but it you are keeping the Kleenex that David Cassidy sneezed into, it might be time to let go, and make new memories.
If you answered yes to 3, immediately take all discarded items to the Goodwill or Salvation Army. I can guarantee that 12 hours later, you will not even remember what you got rid of!
If you start small and work one space at a time, a big mess can turn into an organized home. Good Luck!